Insider: Why rookie Colts pass rusher Kemoko Turay's playing time has fallen off

Join insiders @zkeefer and @JoelAErickson as they discuss what to expect this Sunday vs the Giants plus some Darius Leonard discussion.
Clark Wade, Clark.Wade@Indystar.com

Tennessee Titans quarterback Blaine Gabbert (7) is pressured by Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kemoko Turay (57) in the second half of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018. The Colts defeated the Titans 38-10.(Photo: Matt Kryger/IndyStar)

Story Highlights

For so long, the rookie out of Rutgers was like so many of the rest of the Colts’ rookie class, playing a key role on the defensive line and flashing the pass-rush ability that made him one of Chris Ballard’s four second-round picks in April.

But Turay’s playing time, and subsequently his impact, started to fall off some time around Thanksgiving. Active for nine of the first 10 games of his rookie season, Turay averaged 36.1 snaps.

Turay has averaged just 11.3 snaps in the four games since then, and his season hit a low point when he was active on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys but did not take a snap.

Injuries have played a factor. So has the return of fellow rookie Tyquan Lewis, who took over as the starter at right defensive end immediately after being activated off of injured reserve.

Put simply, though, the Indianapolis coaching staff needs to see more out of Turay on the practice field.

“If you hustle in practice and you rush the way you were supposed to rush, execute and have production in practice, we are obviously going to play those guys in the game,” Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus said. “If you don’t have that, and you have situations where you are not executing the way we want to and at the standard we want to have, then you might not play as much.”

Turay’s talent is obvious. Freakishly long and athletic, blessed with speed and an excellent first step, Turay has four sacks and ranks second on the Colts with 12 quarterback hits, evidence of his raw ability to get to the quarterback.

But Turay has been battling a neck/shoulder injury and a hip injury since October, and he was forced to sit out the Colts’ first game against Jacksonville. Turay returned the next week and recorded a sack in 41 snaps against the Titans, but he wasn’t playing at full strength.

“It’s getting better," Turay said. "I’m just trying to get right.”

The shoulder injury, in particular, has lingered. While Turay declined to offer details on the injury, the rookie did admit that the shoulder has good days and bad days. At times, he feels like it’s healed, and then the pain returns.

Lewis’ emergence also doesn’t necessarily mean Turay has to lose snaps. The other defensive lineman the Colts picked in the second round, Lewis has the versatility to play all over the line, and Indianapolis would like to get him more chances to rush from the interior. In the first game the two played together, Lewis started on the right side and took 50 snaps, but Turay still logged 41 plays against the Titans.

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Indianapolis Colts defensive back George Odum (30) celebrates his interception with his teammates late in the fourth quarter of their game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. The Colts shut-out the Cowboys 23-0. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts running back Marlon Mack (25) runs through the Dallas Cowboys defense in the second half of their game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. The Colts shut-out the Cowboys 23-0. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts running back Marlon Mack (25) pounds the ball to the goal line into Dallas Cowboys free safety Xavier Woods (25) in the first half of their game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines (21) make a catch in front of Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker Jaylon Smith (54) in the first half of their game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts defensive end Tyquan Lewis (94) celebrates his second quarterback sack of the game, in the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Pierre Desir (35) breaks up a pass intended for Dallas Cowboys tight end Blake Jarwin (89) in the second half of their game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. The Colts shut-out the Cowboys 23-0. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) scramlbles away from the pressure by Dallas Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence (90) in the second half of their game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. The Colts shut-out the Cowboys 23-0. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper (19) catches a pass in front of Indianapolis Colts cornerback Pierre Desir (35) for a short gain in the second half of their game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. The Colts shut-out the Cowboys 23-0. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts running back Marlon Mack (25) runs through the Dallas Cowboys defense in the second half of their game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. The Colts shut-out the Cowboys 23-0. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri (4) connects on a field goal in the second half of their game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. The Colts shut-out the Cowboys 23-0. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Pierre Desir (35) breaks up a pass intended for Dallas Cowboys tight end Blake Jarwin (89) in the second half of their game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. The Colts shut-out the Cowboys 23-0. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Anthony Walker (50) closes in for the tackle on Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) in the first half of their game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts running back Marlon Mack (25) is wrapped up by Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Damien Wilson (57) in the second half of their game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. The Colts shut-out the Cowboys 23-0. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts defensive end Margus Hunt (92) pressured Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) to get rid of the ball in the second half of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) fights for extra yards as Indianapolis Colts defenders bring him down in the first half of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. The Colts won, 23-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (13) is unable to receive a pass in the end zone in the first half of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. The Colts won, 23-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts strong safety Clayton Geathers (26) goes after the Dallas Cowboys offensive line in the first half of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. The Colts won, 23-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts running back Marlon Mack (25) runs in a touchdown in the second half of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. The Colts won, 23-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts running back Marlon Mack (25) runs in a touchdown in the second half of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. The Colts won, 23-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts running back Marlon Mack (25) fights for extra yards in the second half of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. The Colts won, 23-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) starts an offensive play in the second half of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. The Colts won, 23-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts defensive back George Odum (30) celebrates his interception late in the second half of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. The Colts won, 23-0. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Turay’s snaps have largely gone to backup defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad, a player the Colts claimed off of waivers from the Saints at the end of training camp. Muhammad has played 98 snaps in the last two games after rarely playing 20 on defense for most of the season.

To Turay’s credit, he’s heard the message the coaching staff has been telling him: Hard work can get you back in the lineup.

“You’ve got to do whatever you’ve got to do to keep your job,” Turay said. “The (coaching staff) didn’t see the guy I was the first week, so I’ve got to constantly keep getting in the training room and do whatever possible.”

Eberflus, for his part, opened the week by saying he was confident Turay would put in the work to earn back a spot on a surging Colts defense. The rookie has his eyes set on getting back to where he was in the first half of the season:

Chasing quarterbacks.

“I’ve been practicing, fighting through what I’m going through, but that ain’t going to stop me,” Turay said. “At the end of the day, I’ve got to make the coach want to play me. It’s up to them. I’m going to do what I can do to the best of my ability.”

Because when he's playing to the best of his ability, Turay can be a force.